May-June 2024

Administrator’s Notes

by Ralph Gibson, Museums Administrator

I can’t believe it’s May already. Summer is just around the corner and that means the Heritage Trail is on the way! Once again, we’ll have at least 26 museums participating from Roseville to Tahoe. We should have the dates set and information posted online soon. Be watching for it!

We just had our annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, and it was a huge success with 100 people in attendance, including District 1 Supervisor Bonnie Gore and District 3 Supervisor Jim Holmes. Congratulations to everyone who reached a milestone in years and hours served and a special congratulations to our three Outstanding Achievement awardees: Mike Edwards, Lynn Tubbe and Eve Gutierrez.

 
Our exhibit on the Ludwig Twins is fully installed in the Placer County Museum, including film footage of their trick riding on the big screen in the gallery, so please come by and check it out!

The exhibit team is hard at work on an exhibit on the Foresthill Telephone Company that will be installed in the Forest Hill Divide Museum before they open for the season Memorial Day weekend. Aside from that, planning is well underway for the Old Auburn Cemetery Tour and the Old Auburn Ghost Tour, so it’s never a dull moment for the Placer County Museums.

I hope to see you all on the Heritage Trail this summer!

Supervisor Jim Holmes, Tom Innes, Richard Jones and Supervisor Bonnie Gore at the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon.

New Donation Highlight

by Kasia Woroniecka , Curator of Collections

This little thimble was made around 1900 and came in a wooden holder in the shape of an acorn. It is engraved with a floral design and the name B. Morrison. Though initially tools for sewing, thimbles evolved into fashionable gifts and sought-after collectibles during the 19th century.

It is through donations like these that we can continue to bring history to life for our visitors. If you have items with Placer County history that you are interested in donating, please contact the Curator of Collections, Kasia Woroniecka (kworonie@placer.ca.gov) or the Curator of Archives, Kelsey Monahan (kmonahan@placer.ca.gov) to find out how.

Echoes of the Esoteric in Applegate 

by Kelsey Monahan, Curator of Archives

Recently a collection was donated to the Archive and Research Center from the Hotchkiss Family, a prominent Placer County family and former proprietors of the Walmond resort in Applegate. Among the items is small journal bearing the inscription: “John Farwell Hotchkiss, Applegate, 1900-1901.”

 
John F. Hotchkiss was just one or two years old when his family, led by his father W.B. Hotchkiss, a prominent newspaper editor, relocated to Applegate between 1893 and 1894. Here, they established and managed the Walmond resort, while W.B. Hotchkiss also served in various civic capacities and cultivated fruit trees in the area.

John was about 8 years old when he wrote the journal, and it reflects his childhood wonder and observation. He describes summer trips to Blue Cañon, how much he liked his teacher Miss Lynch, and the family dog, Brownie, whom John fondly recounts the origin of his name being because he was “so little, so fat, and so brown.”

 

The Hotchkiss Family in Applegate 1901, from left to right: W.B., John, Anna, and Douglas. 

He also writes about a “gray-haired gentleman” named Mr. Butler, who runs a colony in Applegate. John describes him: “He has been in the Rebellion war and on his right hand he has all but his thumb and fore-finger cut off so he can not lift anything; but he can hold a cigar and that’s very important to him because he is all ways smoking the vilest cigars I ever smelt and he smokes about thirteen of them a day and I should think they would make him sick but they don’t and I think it is a mystery that they don’t. He keeps a blacksmith and there is a very old gentleman whose name is Mr. Nichol that works in the shop and Mr. Nichol is one of Grandmothers great friends. There is only about ten people there now and when they do go there they only stay about two days. Mr. Butler will not let Mr. Nichol go to see anybody because he thinks Mr. Nichol will say something about him or the way he does things.” This Mr. Butler of course is Hiram Erastus Butler, leader of the Esoteric Fraternity in Applegate, a secluded religious organization that believed a life of celibacy and solitude would lead to immortality.

 
Mr. Nichol is likely Lorenzo Dow Nichols, one of the original members of the Esoteric Fraternity that took over as President in 1916 at age 92 after H.E. Butler’s death. The secrecy of Mr. Butler can possibly be attributed to an 1899 suit filed by the manager of the Esoteric Publishing Company, T.A. Williston, alleging that H.E. Butler and the colony owed him two years of wages, and accusing Butler of mismanagement and drunkenness. The case was struck out in June 1900, around the time that young John Farwell Hotchkiss would have been writing in his journal.

 
In reading the entries of this young man, we’re reminded that even the youngest among us can provide unique perspectives and add to our understanding of history.

 

Advertisement for the Walmond Resort in Applegate

Saving the Foresthill Odd Fellows Building

by Christina Richter, Museums Administrative Clerk

The structure at 24611 Foresthill Road was built in 1857 as one-story mercantile building. Three years later, the Odd Fellows chapter in the nearby gold mining town of Bath identified the building as a potential place to call their home. Reed’s General Store occupied the existing building, and the Odd Fellows proposed a 2nd story. 

Reed agreed. Rights were purchased to build the second story with the deed documenting that the Odd Fellows would keep up the roof, and store-owner Reed would keep up the foundation. In December of 1860 construction was complete and the Odd Fellows held their first meeting in the upstairs space in January 1861. 

Through the years the building has had repairs and reinforcement, but a significant deterioration began about 20 years ago. The winter storm of 2008 irreparably damaged the front balcony, overhang, and roof. The Odd Fellows replaced the roof and removed what remained of the front balcony and overhang. Unfortunately, this exposure caused further deterioration. 

Today the cherished historic building is in danger of permanent disrepair. The Odd Fellows are working diligently alongside local citizens to understand what’s needed to save the structure. This important and beloved part of Foresthill’s heritage is at stake. Anyone interested in joining the effort to save this historic structure is encouraged to contact the Foresthill Odd Fellows at their email address: IOOF73FH@gmail.com. 

New Exhibit at the Placer County Museum

by Jason Adair, Exhibit Technician

The 1918 Pandemic at the Courthouse is over! In commemoration, we cleared out the exhibit in record time, while wearing masks and gloves! In the space now is a new exhibit on the Ludwig Twins who were trick riders from the area and – just come down and see the exhibit for yourself, it’s really great, and there’s even a video of them trick riding!

Docent Spotlight

Kaitlin Grebe, Curator

Paul Clement has been volunteering for Placer County Museums for six years. He decided to join because he was retired and felt “the need to be doing stuff”. Before this, he gave tours at the Kearny Mansion and did archiving in Fresno. He enjoys reading and viewing old documents and images, so volunteering with the archives on Fridays is right up his alley!

In addition to the archives, he volunteers on Saturdays at the Placer County Museum in the Courthouse, but has also done Griffith Quarry and the Foresthill Museum.

His advice to anyone interested in volunteering is to try the different venues until you find the one you enjoy. His favorite part of the work is harassing Katy Bartosh, our Curator of Education. You can visit Paul and comfort Katy on Saturday mornings in the Courthouse.

Placer County Genealogical Society

 

A major mission of the Placer County Genealogical Society is to promote the preservation of public and private records of genealogical and historical value. A major effort in that regard over the last 30 years has been to provide indexes to local records. These indexes are maintained on the website www.placergenealogy.org. The record indexes include:

INDEXES TO OLD AUBURN CEMETERY BOOKS from the Auburn Public Cemetery District
WORLD WAR I SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA from the History of Placer and Nevada Counties, California, by Lardner & Brock

INDEX TO BILLS OF SALE from the Placer County Clerk/Recorder's Office

INDEX OF MILITARY DISCHARGE RECORDS from the Placer County Archives and several others including marriage and other vital records.

 
The Society also maintains a Library located at the Loomis Library and Community Center which includes books on a large variety of genealogical topics.

Upcoming general meetings will feature member sharing about our military ancestors on May 27th, and a presentation by Christine Cohen on researching your Civil War veteran ancestors on June 24th.

 Meetings begin at 7 pm at the Beecher Room of the Auburn Library, 350 Nevada Street, Auburn.

All meetings are free and open to the public. The meetings can also be accessed by Zoom. Check the website for more information.

Placer County Historical Society Dinner Meeting

When: Thursday, June 6, 2024

 
Meeting at 6:00, Dinner at 6:15       Cost: $20.00.

 Speaker Barbara Leak at 6:45

Speaker presentation: Free

Topic: The Story of Peter Oest, a Placer County Pioneer

Location: Veterans Memorial Hall Dinner

100 East Street, Auburn, CA

Please RSVP to Jane Hamilton hamiltonjane1@me.com or 530-885-7839

Please go to www.placercountyhistoricalsociety.org for more information

Placer County Historical Organizations

Colfax Area Historical Society 

Jay McIntyre, President, (530) 346-8599

colfaxhistory.org 

Donner Summit Historical Society

Bill Oudegeest, (209) 606-6859

donnersummithistoricalsociety.org

Foresthill Divide Historical Society

Annie DeMaria-Norris (916) 206-4479 foresthillhistory.org

Fruitvale School Hall 

Community Association 

Mark Fowler

Golden Drift Historical Society

Sarah Fugate, (530) 389-2121

Historical Advisory Board

Glenn Vineyard, (916) 747-1961

Joss House Museum and 

Chinese History Center

Larry Finney, (530) 305-9380

Lincoln Area Archives Museum

Elizabeth Jansen, (916) 645-3800

laamca.org

Lincoln Highway Association 

Trey Pitsenberger

vice.president@lincolnhighwayassoc.org

Loomis Basin Historical Society

Karen Clifford, (916) 663-3871

www.loomisbasinhistory.org

Maidu Museum & Historic Site

Kaitlin Kincade, (916) 774-5934

roseville.ca.us/indianmuseum 

The Museum of Sierra Ski History and 1960 Winter Olympics 

David C. Antonucci, (775) 722-3502 

tahoemuseum.org

Native Sons of the Golden West 

Parlor #59

Dave Allen, (530) 878-2878 dsallen59@sbcglobal.net

Newcastle Portuguese Hall 

Association

Mario Farinha, (530) 269-2412 

North Lake Tahoe Historical Society

Phil Sexton, (530) 583-1762

northtahoemuseums.org

Placer County Genealogical Society 

Diane Fishburn

http://www.placergenealogy.org  

Placer County Historical Society

April McDonald-Loomis

(530) 823-2128

placercountyhistoricalsociety.org

Placer County Museums Docent Guild

Craig Norris

Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society  

Chuck Spinks

Psrhs.org

Rocklin Historical Society

Hank Lohse, (916) 624-3464

rocklinhistory.org

Roseville Historical Society

Denise Fiddyment, (916) 773-3003

rosevillehistorical.org

Calendar 

Please confirm all meeting times and locations with each organization

Foresthill Divide Historical Society Meeting:         Monday, May 20th at 6:00 p.m.
Golden Drift Historical Society Meeting:          Monday, June 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
Historical Advisory Board Meeting:          Wednesday, June 19th at 5:30 p.m.
Loomis Basin Historical Society Meeting:          Wednesday, May 15th at 6:00 p.m.
Placer County Historical Society Meeting:          Thursday, May 2nd at 2:00 p.m.
Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society:          Tuesday, May 28th at 7:00 p.m.
Rocklin Historical Society Meeting:             Tuesday, May 14th at 6:30 p.m.
Roseville Historical Society Meeting:          Tuesday, May 14th at 4:00 p.m.